Falls boys rout WAC to clinch GMC title tie; look for outright championship

There were no overt celebration, not even a random "High 5" to honor the fact that the Menomonee Falls boys basketball team had clinched a share of its first Greater Metro Conference title and their first league championship of any kind since a Braveland crown in 1993, with their 83-50 rout of West Allis Central Friday night.

No, there wasn't and that was by design said Indian coach Ben Siebert.

"We're not celebrating anything yet," he said. "We don't want to be looked on as selfish, but we don't want to share. Maybe we'll celebrate after the Tosa game (East at home next Saturday night) because we want to clinch things outright on our own floor on senior night."

"We want to go 14-0 (in league play)."

And his seniors reflected that attitude.

"We're glad to bring it back (a league title) to the Falls," said guard John Cording, "but we're not satisfied by any means yet. There's a lot of ball yet to be played."

And a lot of excitement to be created.

The Indians (12-0 in GMC play and 15-3 overall) had been off a full week since their Tuesday game with Homestead was postponed by snow (rescheduled for Feb. 22 at Homestead) and they needed some excitement.

They jumped out to a 13-3 lead, but the play was a bit flat and occasionally listless as the Bulldogs (4-7, 9-10) managed to close the gap to 18-14 early in the second quarter before Falls put on a 16-8 run to close out the half with a 34-22 lead.

Guard Jalen Ramey (13 points) closed out the first session with a perfectly timed three-pointer from the top of the key that came with only two seconds remaining.

"I was talking to Coach (assistant Kevin) Kempen and I told him that it felt like we hadn't played in weeks and weeks," said Siebert.

And the quiet crowd needed a jumpstart too, so the Indians gave them one midway through the third quarter when center Jonathan Phillips (14 points) took a nifty backwards pass from Ramey and slammed it home for a vicious dunk.

Then before the crowd finished its roar for that effort, it had reason to rise up again as J.P. Tokoto (19 points) stole the ball on the inbounds and hammered home a slam of his own. Those twin efforts made the score 46-28 and effectively ended any doubt.

It was moments afterward that Indiana University coach Tom Crean walked in to observe Tokoto.

"Our game is just getting out and having fun," said senior guard Conor Cassidy, who finished with 12 points.

"It was a half-day of school and it's always hard to get the kids (in the crowd) excited in a situation like that," said Siebert. "We just needed to turn the energy up a notch."

Siebert praised guards Cording, Ramey, Cassidy and Adam Rubatt for extending themselves on the press and for pushing themselves on defense and making the extra pass.

"When their teammates see that, it just makes it easier for everyone to do their jobs," Siebert said.